Can a strata scheme block an owner from building an accessibility ramp?

By admin,

I own a ground-floor unit at the front of a small suburban complex. Current access requires me to walk across the front lawn and up three steps to my verandah to open my front door. As I have arthritis and other health issues, I am losing mobility and becoming disabled. Walking across the spongy lawn is difficult, and the stairs are becoming unmanageable. There is no banister.

Are screen doors sustainability infrastructure in NSW strata schemes?

By admin,

Under the recent changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 regarding sustainability, would installing screen doors to allow fresh air flow and reduce the use of air conditioning and fans qualify as a sustainable practice? I believe this would fit under NSW Fair Trading’s sustainability category 1, which covers reducing or improving the efficiency of energy or water consumption. Several units in my building have no windows in their bedrooms or living areas, only sliding glass doors.

Do lot owners need approval to run a business from their lot?

By admin,

Without permission, a lot owner is running a recycling business from our strata building, complete with an ABN. The rear courtyard contains about 20 wheelie bins and other recycling containers. Their business website states they collect and sort batteries at their home, and they have placed large collection containers in the common garden area for customer drop-offs.

What laws apply to recording, publishing, or transcribing body corporate meetings?

By admin,

In our scheme, an owner who is not on the committee has made an unauthorised recording of a committee meeting without permission. Also, an owner trespassed on a neighbour's lot to take photographs of fences and sent the images to the committee. Should the committee formally record these incidents in the meeting minutes, and are there any legal implications to consider?

We would also like to know:

Do body corporate managers have a duty to advise on legal compliance?

By admin,

We noticed that caretaker agreements sometimes include a duty to advise the body corporate on compliance with relevant laws regarding maintenance of common property. However, we cannot find any similar obligation in the body corporate management contract to advise on legal compliance when handling body corporate matters.

How a small body corporate committee can meet its obligations and manage conflicts

By admin,

For over 20 years, our body corporate operated without a formal committee. As secretary, I informally carried out most executive roles and made decisions in consultation with the strata manager. We rarely held formal meetings or used voting outside committee processes, except when owners made specific requests, such as installing an air conditioner. Our committee now has three members, but given its small size, we face challenges in meeting all legislative requirements.

Stopping smoke drift in a Victoria apartment

By admin,

I own an apartment and am experiencing smoke drift from my neighbours. I have a health condition that puts me at high risk for a stroke, and the smoke is a genuine hazard to my health.

With the new rules regarding smoking not impinging on neighbouring lots, can I submit a grievance form to the owners corporation (OC), or must the OC include this rule in the by-laws before I can submit my complaint?

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